Game



Oct. 3, 1933.

v E. H. MURRAY GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Shee'rl 2 nvenlor llomey E. H. MURRAY Oct. 3, 1933.

GAME

Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 By v ,/qllomey Patented Oct. 3, 1933 v GAME Edward Henry Murray, Baldwin, N. Y.

Application August 9, 1932. Serial No. 628,076

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new game and has for some of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which will be highly amusing and instructive, which may be participated in by a number of players simultaneously and in the successful playing of which considerable skill will be required, which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost. y

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from. a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a top plan View showing a game constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a viewin vertical section through the game, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in top plan ol a portion of the bowl. f

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view in top plan, showing the ball receiving pockets with balls in certain of said pockets.

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section through a plurality of the scoring pockets.

Figure Sis a detail View in vertical section, taken through an outer portion of one of the ball runways.

Figure 9 is a detail View in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 10--10 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an annular casing 1 of suitable dimensions and material, said casing being substantially in the form of an inverted cone. Mounted on the top of the casing l is a flat ring 2 from which a bowl 3 depends into the casing. Suitable brackets or other means may be provided for supporting the bowl 3 in the casing 1.

In its upper portion the bowl 3 has formed therein a plurality of spaced, circumferentially extending slots 4, .the purpose of whichwill be presently set forth. The bowl 3 is further provided with a centrally located ball outlet opening 5. The bowl 3 is still further provided with radial series of openings providing scoring pockets 6. The Vseries of scoring pockets 6 are spaced from the opening 5 and from the top of thebowl 3. Adjacent each scoring pocket 6 is a substantially U-shaped guard 7, said guards 7 constituting each series facing alternatelyk in opposite directions.

'Channels 3 are provided inthe bowl 3, said channels including lared mouth or inlet portions 9. The channels 8 are longitudinally curved and extend from the marginal portion 10 ofthe bowl 3 to a point adjacent the scoring pockets 6. The channels which are provided for each series of scoring pockets 6 are arranged on opposite sides of said series and extend'substantially to those kpockets in which the guards 7 face in that direction. This` is illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings.

.Gates designated generally by the reference numeral 11 are provided for each series of scorring pockets 6. Each gatell includes a curved bar 12 which is hingedly mounted, as at' 13, on the lower side of the bowl 3. Each gate 11 further includes a series of pins 14.which are engageable in the scoring pockets, said pins havingconfcavities 15 in their free ends. Springs 16 maintain the gates 11 normally in closed position. Cables 17 are connected to the gates 11 for manually opening said gates against the tension of the springs 16. The cables 17 are trained over suitable guides 18 and are operable through openings provided therefor in the casing 1. Suitable handles, such as rings 19, are provided on the outer ends of the cables 17. n

Mounted in spaced relation to the bowl 3 beneath said bowl is a ball return bowl 20 having y a centrally located outlet opening 21 therein. Arranged beneath the opening 21 is a ball return chute 22 which extends outwardly to the casing 1. The outer end of the chute 22 is closed by a hinged door 23 which may be provided With a suitable lock.

Substantially spiral runways which are designated generally by the reference numeral 24 are mounted between the casing 1 and the bowl 3, said runways communicating, at their upper ends, g with the slots 4 in said bowl 3. The upper end portions of the runways 24 are directed inwardly toward the slots 4, as illustrated to advantage in Figures 4 and 9 of the drawings, for discharging the balls into the bowl 3 through said slots. jllO OFFICE The runways 24 are substantially of the cross sectional shape shown in Figure 8 for the major portion of their lengths, said runways projecting substantially tangentially from the casing 1 through openings provided therefor at spaced points in said casing. The projecting portions of the runways 24 are provided with foraminous hoods 25 constituting guards. The outer portions of the guards 25 are cut away, as at 27, (see Figure 1) to facilitate driving the balls. The balls are placed on the outer end portions of the runways 24, as at 28, at which points suitable tees may, if desired, be provided.

The balls are designated by the reference numeral 29 and said balls are lettered. The balls 29 are provided in a plurality of sets, each set being distinctively colored for identification. Of course, each participant in the game will use one set of balls 29. n

In operation, the/balls are driven up the runways 24'by the use of ordinary golf clubs, said balls entering the bowl 3 through the slots 4. The balls then enter the channels 8 and are conveyed by gravity in the channels to the pockets 6. The object of the game is to play the balls 29 into the pockets in such order that the letters thereon will vspell a word, as suggested in Figure 5 of the drawings.` It will thus be seen that a high degree of skill will be required in driving the balls with the necessary speed to cause said balls to enter the channels 8 leading to the desired pockets. The -balls which do not enter the pockets fi'for any reason,'as when'a pocket to which a ball may roll is already occupied,.will roll by gravity to the center ofthe bowl 3 and drop through the outlet opening 5; When the balls enter the scoring pockets 6, said balls seat in the concavities 15 provided therefor in the pins 14 of the gate 11k andare retained thereby.

When it is desired to release the balls from the pockets 6, the gates 11 are Vswung downwardly to open position against the tension of the springs :16 through the medium of the cables 17, thus -withdrawing the pins 14 lfrom saidpockets and permitting the balls to drop into the return bowl 20. The balls are discharged from the return bowl 20 into the chute 22 through the opening 21 and roll to the lower end portion of said chute to be replayed. The lettered balls 29 may also be y used independently of the rest of the game herel in illustrated and described for the purpose of forming or spelling words, if desired.

It is believed that the many advantages of a game in accordance with the Vpresent invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

.What is claimed is:-

.1. A game comprising a bowl having radial series of scoring pockets therein, a runway for discharging balls into the bowl, said bowl further having channels therein for receiving the balls and conveying said balls to each of the scoring pockets, the channels beingv alternately on opposite sides of the pockets of each series.

2. A game comprising a casing, a bowl moiuited in the Vcasing having openings therein, inclined runways extending into the casing and commustantially spiral runways extending into the cas- I ing and communicating with the openings Vfor discharging balls into the bowl, said bowl having a central opening therein and further having radial series of scoring pockets therein for the reception of the balls, the bowl including a substantially plane marginal portion and still further having channels therein extending from the scoring pockets to said marginal portionv for conveying the balls to the scoring pockets, gates hingedly mounted beneath the bowl for releasably retaining the balls in the scoring pockets, and means for actuating the gates for releasing the balls from the scoring pockets.

EDWARD HENRY MURRAY. 

